Category: District News

Please note, this page was updated Aug. 24 to reflect changes to the school calendar. The first day of school on Sept. 14 is an “A” day; the second day of school on Sept. 15 is a “B” day.

Greetings Families of Harry Hoag Elementary School,

I hope that everyone found time to enjoy the beautiful summer months! We have been busy planning for the much anticipated return of our students this fall. At the heart of our planning, was that idea that school should be a safe and welcoming environment that is tailored to support learners of all ages and all abilities. We have kept those core beliefs in mind as we developed our pandemic school experience. We believe that we can adjust our professional practices this year and keep student learning and personal growth for all as the central objectives of our work.  

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be several changes to our school routines. These changes were developed to promote ongoing health and safety for all of our school community members. Please read this information carefully. 

To ensure the effectiveness of our new procedures, per the recommendations of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the New York State Education Department (NYSED), the structure of our school day will be different.

Start to the Year

In an effort to transition students back to school successfully and comfortably,  Harry Hoag will begin the year with individual meetings for all learners. Teachers will reach out to schedule a visitation for each child.  We ask that a caregiver plan to attend the meetings as well. Special accommodations for working parents can be made as needed.  

The first day of in person learning for Day A will be Monday, Sept. 14 and for Day B will be Tuesday, Sept. 15. A calendar of the A/B cycle will be posted on our website.

Parents should watch the mail this week for a letter with individual details about A/ B day assignments. 

Related: Harry Hoag Elementary School Supply Lists | Video of Aug. 17 parent forum | Google Slides presentation for Aug. 17 parent forum | Elementary resources to help explain changes at school to children

Blended Model

The school year will be run on a Day A and Day B rotation. Students will attend school one day in person, then remain home for remote instruction on the next day. This A/B pattern will repeat for the foreseeable future.  Students will have assignments to complete on the home/remote day. By splitting the class sections into two, we will be able to decrease the number of students in a classroom each day.  This will allow for social distancing to occur so that students do not have to wear a face covering all day. Maximum in person class sizes would be near 10 students.

Harry Hoag Elementary School Day

7:50-8:05 Bus Drop only

8:05-8:30 Parent Drop off and Walkers are welcome

8:30-2:20 Instructional Day  

At 8:30 am and at 2:15 pm, a Google Meet will be held with all students in each homeroom.  Both in person and remote learners are expected to attend the meets daily.  If there is a conflict, caregivers should notify their child’s teacher.  These meets will set the goals for the day for all learners and provide a check in opportunity to close out the day. 

2:25 Bus Dismissal only

2:35 Parent Pick Up and Walker Dismissal 

If you choose to self transport, please note that parent drop off and walkers will be welcome at 8:05 am. 

Technology

Students in Prekindergarten – First Grade will be offered an iPad to use for the school year. Students in Grades 2-6 will be offered a Chromebook to use for the school year. Students will be expected to charge their device each night. Devices are expected to be brought to school for in person learning and then may travel home for use on the remote day. Caregivers and students (Gr 2 and above) will be asked to sign a Technology User Agreement. 

Mandatory Use of Protective Personal Equipment

All faculty, staff and students who transition throughout the building in common spaces such as the hallways or bathrooms are expected to wear a face covering at all times. Students who are unable to medically tolerate a face covering will not be required to wear one.  Face coverings will be provided to students, if needed.  

Designated Personal Workspace

In classrooms, desks/ tables  will be arranged to comply with social distancing guidelines thus eliminating the need for students to wear a face coverings during instruction. Each student will be provided a desk or table assignment to serve as their designated personal workspace for the entire day.  

Enhanced cleaning routines have been developed to accommodate for eating in the classrooms and to allow for the regular disinfection of high touch surfaces such as desks, chairs and door knobs.

Arrival Procedure

Health Screenings will be conducted each morning before coming to school for all members of the school community. Faculty, staff and students will attest to their wellness using the District provided protocol. Students riding school transportation will be screened prior to boarding the bus. Students arriving via personal transportation will be screened upon entry to the building. Face coverings may be removed once a person arrives at their designated personal workspace. 

Dismissal Procedure

All school community members are required wear a face covering during dismissal. Teachers will escort Parent Pick Up students to the gym. All others will be escorted to the buses. Parent Pick Up students will sit on designated spots (6 feet apart) until a staff member escorts them to their parent/caregiver for dismissal. 

 Once the buses have cleared, Parent Pick Up will begin.  

New this year, parents will be asked to stay in their vehicles. A traffic enforcer will manage traffic flow through the bus loop to the main entry. If you arrive at Parent Pick Up before bus dismissal is over, please park in Wiles Park. Please remain in your car. Once your vehicle reaches the main entry, a staff member will confirm your pick up list; then retrieve and deliver your children to the vehicle. If you pick up your child on foot, please also report to the main entry. There will be markings to indicate where to wait while a staff member assists you.

As you prepare for your child’s return to school this fall, please practice wearing a face covering for several minutes to simulate the experience of walking in our school hallways or having to be in large group settings for a few minutes such as at Parent Pick Up.  

More information regarding the reopening of Harry Hoag Elementary School will be shared during the virtual parent forum on Monday, Aug. 17. The forum will begin at 6 p.m. You can access the forums by going to the district’s YouTube channel.

We kindly request that you update any forms related to your child’s residency and/or health needs. Copies of The Ride with Pride Bus Behavior Contract and our Code of Conduct will be mailed. It is important to review these documents with your child prior to the start of school.  

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel to reach me in the Main Office at (518) 993-4000 ext. 3059 or via email at lauren.crisman@fortplain.org. I look forward to welcoming each child back to Harry Hoag soon! Be well!

Proud to be your Principal,

Lauren Crisman

The Fort Plain Central School District will hold its monthly board meeting at 7 p.m. on Aug. 19 in the Harry Hoag Elementary School. The meeting will be held in-person and is open to the public. Social distancing guidelines and safety precautions will be adhered to, including the wearing of masks. Meeting materials are available on BoardDocs.

Fort Plain Central School District has submitted its reopening plan to both the New York State Education Department and the Department of Health, in accordance with state reopening guidelines. The district has received confirmation from both agencies that its reopening plan has been received.

Dear Fort Plain families, 

Today Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that schools in New York state will reopen this fall, based on current infection rates. We are currently awaiting more detailed information and guidance from the executive order and how it relates to our reopening plan. We will share any updates as soon as possible. 

We invite you to participate in a virtual community forum about our reopening plan at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 13. We will also gather input and answer questions from families. You can access the forum by going to the district’s YouTube channel. It will be recorded and shared on the district website. 

There will be a question and answer period. We will answer questions from the parent survey we issued last month. You can also submit questions on this Google Form.

We are excited and look forward to having our students, teachers and staff members together again at school. We remain focused on developing practices and protocols designed to mitigate risk and protect the safety and health of all as we ensure the best possible academic experience for students. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me or your school building administrator if you have any questions or concerns. We sincerely appreciate your time, support and continued partnership. 

Sincerely,

John Bishop
Superintendent of Schools

Grab a stuffed animal and curl up in a cozy spot for virtual story time with Harry Hoag Elementary School Principal Lauren Crisman. She has partnered with the Fort Plain Free Library to promote literacy in the community this summer. Every week, the library is sharing videos on its Facebook page featuring Mrs. Crisman reading picture books and parts of chapter books. This series is called “Page Turners.” It’s part of Fort Plain Free Library’s virtual 2020 summer reading program, “Imagine Your Story.” Mrs. Crisman is also featured in some of the library’s virtual Toddler/Preschool Story Time videos.

To register and participate in online summer reading and fun at the library, go to  http://fortplainfreelibraryny12.readsquared.com/.

More Page Turner videos with Mrs. Crisman

• “The Little Engine That Could” as retold by Watty Piper 
• “Judy Moody and the Mystery of the Missing Mood Ring” from Megan McDonald’s “Judy Moody’s Mini-Mysteries and Other Sneaky Stuff for Super-Sleuths”
• “The Very Lonely Firefly” by Eric Carle
• “Bones and the Clown Mix-up Mystery” by David Adler
• “The Berenstain Bears and the Missing Dinosaur Bone,” by Stan and Jan Berenstain

Fort Plain Central School District has submitted its reopening plan to the New York State Department of Education.

The full plan is available at https://www.fortplain.org/reopening-plan/.

School districts are required to submit plans for three scenarios:

1. In-person learning at school
2. Remote learning at home
3. Blended learning (a “hybrid” combination of in-person & remote learning).  

Each school district must submit plans to NYSED by July 31. The governor plans to announce how schools will reopen in early August. His decision will be based upon the local/state COVID-19 infection rate at that time.

Among other requirements, there are strict health and safety regulations which must be followed.  Health and safety of the children and adults is paramount and must be the first consideration in the development of plans.  There is a clear directive that face coverings must be worn at all times when social distancing cannot be achieved.

The Fort Plain plan is strategically designed to maximize student – teacher contact time in all settings. That being said, the ability to physically space children and adults will limit our ability to have all students in attendance at the same time.  

The reopening plans will continue to be shaped by state and federal guidance as well as through consultation with health departments.

This is a tentative framework of the reopening plan for Fort Plain CSD. The plan is subject to change based on resources, community/stakeholder feedback and guidance from the governor, Department of Health, Centers for Disease Control and NYSED.

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Stakeholders of the Fort Plain school community:

Approximately two weeks ago the NYS Education Department released a guidance document to inform the development of plans for schools to reopen in September. Our initial plan will be posted to the school website tomorrow, Friday, July 31.

School districts were asked to submit reopening plans for three scenarios: in-person learning, remote learning and hybrid learning (a combination of in-person & remote learning).

We developed our plan using feedback from stakeholders. In addition to information provided through two parent surveys, feedback was gathered through faculty surveys and multiple focus groups.

Some key areas of focus in the planning process included health and hygiene, nutrition and food services, transportation, attendance, school activities, services for students with special needs and school safety.

Special attention was devoted to developing consistent communication protocols and ensuring internet accessibility for all students. These areas were identified as barriers for learning in the feedback we received, so it became our priority to address them.

Please keep in mind, plans will continue to evolve based on additional guidance. High-quality and meaningful teaching and learning is our priority. Our goal is to maximize student-teacher contact time in all learning scenarios.

It is important that school feels “normal” for students when they return. With that in mind, we designed our plan in a way that prioritized health and safety while reducing the need to wear face coverings throughout the entire school day.

We will still need to enforce NYSED guidelines and wear face coverings on the school bus, in the hallways and bathrooms and when social distancing cannot be maintained.

The governor is expected to make his announcement about reopening schools late next week. Following his announcement a parent forum will be scheduled to address the questions that were collected through the most recent parent reopening survey.

Thank you for taking the time to offer feedback by participating in the parent surveys and staying connected. With your help we can achieve the district goal to prepare every student for success beyond graduation.

Sincerely,

John Bishop
Superintendent of Schools

The New York State Public High School Athletic Association, Inc. recently announced its 2019-20 Scholar-Athlete School of Distinction and School of Excellence Award winners.

Fort Plain was one of just five Section II schools to earn the School of Distinction award. Fourteen of the district’s teams earned scholar-athlete team awards.

Schools can apply for School of Distinction status by having 100 percent of its varsity teams qualify for and receive the Scholar-Athlete team award during their respective sports seasons.

To earn the School of Excellence Award, 75 percent of a school’s varsity teams must qualify and receive the Scholar-Athlete team award. For the 2019-20 school year, the School of Distinction and School of Excellence winners were based on fall 2019 and winter 2020 Scholar-Athlete submissions because the spring 2020 program was canceled.

The purpose of the School of Distinction and School of Excellence Awards are to unite varsity coaches in challenging their teams to achieve a statewide academic honor.

This year, 56 schools earned the School of Distinction Award and 140 schools earned the School of Excellence Award.

An additional 21 schools received the School of Distinction Award and 13 more received the School of Excellence Award compared to 2018-19 school year.

“We are excited once again to see the numbers of schools honored increase and it is a true testament to the kind of student-athletes we were have here in New York State,” said NYSPHSAA Executive Director Dr. Robert Zayas in a news release. “We continue to be proud of this program which highlights and celebrates schools that value the importance of academics, as well as athletics. The fact that so many student-athletes thrived in the face of a pandemic this past winter is truly remarkable.”

NYSPHSAA’s Scholar-Athlete team award was initiated in 1991-92 school year.

The School of Distinction Award was established in 2002-03 while the School of Excellence Award began in 2016-17. All awards are sponsored by Pupil Benefits Plan.

Construction is underway at the Fort Plain Central School District for its capital improvement project. Work is being conducted at both school buildings and the district bus garage. The project includes health and safety upgrades, addresses maintenance needs and enhances the district’s facilities.

Construction firms have put in 5,000 man hours in recent months to conduct the work. Superintendent of Schools John Bishop says the project is on-time and on-budget. It is anticipated that much of the work will be completed before the first day of instruction on Sept. 8.

“This project allows the district to realize greater operational efficiencies and supports the district’s goals, especially in the areas of health and safety,” Bishop said. “We’re updating aging building systems and making much-needed infrastructure improvements. This work helps reduce long-term maintenance costs and keeps our facilities in top working order.”

District voters approved the $11.2 million project in December 2018. The project does not have an impact on the tax levy. It is financed in part by $1.3 million from the district’s capital reserve fund. The remaining funds are provided by the sale of bonds. Fort Plain is eligible to receive a 94.9 percent reimbursement from the state on allowable expenditures. 

The capital project addresses three major areas of need:

Health and Safety

• 

  Fire alarm system upgrades at both schools

• HVAC upgrades at both schools
• Classroom door security upgrades at both schools
• Installation of an emergency generator at the Jr./Sr. High School
• Cafeteria renovation and kitchen upgrades at Harry Hoag Elementary School

Building Maintenance and Enhancements

• Roof reconstruction at both schools
• Replace outdated windows in a portion of the elementary school
• Masonry restoration at both schools
• Refinish gym floor, install new divider curtain and wall pads in the high school gymnasium
• Server room expansion
• Enclose open maintenance area at bus garage

Site Maintenance and Improvements

• Replace water main/sanitary line at the elementary campus
• Replace pumps serving athletic complex
• Reconstruction of track and fields at the athletic complex
• Paving reconstruction including tennis and basketball courts at the high school and parking and site improvements at the elementary school
• Drainage reconstruction behind the bus garage